What You WIll Miss (circa 2003)

If you fear the shadow before the bird
You will miss the quiet break of air
As wings glide past treetops stirred

If you listen for the exhalation
You will miss the veritable moment
Where laughter falls, joy’s summation

If you wish on stars preceding darkness
You will miss vain light fading,
Scarcely piercing shadowed forest

If you touch before the skin is bare
You will miss the undulating want
Whispers, waiting flagrant surrender

If you sniff the air for the perfect scent
You will miss rose buds burgeoning, wisps
Of space between flowers redolent

If you send the letter before thoughts are finished
You will miss the longitude of emotion,
Journey from brain to heart to hand diminished

If you wonder why the earth is ground
You will miss ferric tether conjoining
Sand and seasons forged of light and sound

If you pray with voices all too quiet
You will miss irreverent portent, wisely
Evincing truth begot by Science

If you sleep before your time is due
You will miss the freeing of verse, the patter
Of prose, searching tautologies anew